All Hail the XT Thumbshifter

The Finest MTB Component Ever Manufactured - It's science

First and foremost I absolutely favor ‘thumb-shifters’ over trigger, dual levers and/or twist-shifters over any other type of set up one could put together. I know that others feel differently and I am glad that there are different choices available; however, CAN SOMEONE AT SHIMANO START MAKING THESE AGAIN? I recently was outbid on ebay for a ‘still in the package’ set of XT thumbshifters to the tune of $152.00 USD. DAMN YOU!!!! I did however rally with these slightly used jewels.

It can be difficult finding a 7 or 8 cog cassette that would mount on a hub engineered to hold a 9 or 10 cogs. I managed but that one cost me a pretty penny as well. I am sure there is a market for a new set of thumbies, perhaps paired with XTR level components that people would buy. I love buying bike parts in grouppo and hate pairing up different systems from different manufactures ala Paul Components + Ultegra Bar End shifters + XTR rear deraileur only to find it was not as smooth as my 7 year old XT set up.

The XT thumbshifters friction mode is a must for anyone commuting. Bulletproof to and fro the hassles of having to have a job. They served me well on two cross country rides as well. Ahhhh, the simplicity of a good design. The click-click-clicking sound that truly only a minimalist could appreciate. It tunes easy. It is reliable. It easy easy to work and it keeps my hands where they need to be.

So I’m back down to a seven speed cassette and I really don’t miss the two cogs I got rid of. I really stay within two cogs on my 7 mile jaunt to work and could probably make due with a fixie if I didn’t think that they are the dorkiest thing this side of crocs. It’s funny how the bicycle industry trends. It’s not funny that my one true love, the XT thumbie, is going the way of the dodo bird. Why can’t all the hipsters start showing some love for the thumbie? Then they would be everywhere, hanging off key chains, in chrome, in carbon fiber, bejeweled, you might even see a gold one hanging off a rapper’s chain.

Please bring back the thumbshifter design. Do you like my walmart cyclo computer?